Tide conditions for Dana Point surf spots
Dana Point, California
Updated Refreshed hourly · Tide data refreshes every 30 minutes from NOAA stations.
A foot of tide swing can shut down one break and light up another in Dana Point. These 4 spots all respond differently - some need the low to expose the bar, others clean up on a rising mid.
Current Tide
Next Low
03:00 AM
2.8 ft
NOAA tide data via Cached Tide Data
Tide Chart
7-Day Tide Schedule
| Day | High 1 | Low 1 | High 2 | Low 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 12:00 AM(3.2ft) | 3:00 AM(2.8ft) | 10:00 AM(5.0ft) | 6:00 PM(0.5ft) |
| Tomorrow | 1:00 AM(3.1ft) | 3:00 AM(3.0ft) | 10:00 AM(4.7ft) | 7:00 PM(0.7ft) |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 11:00 AM(4.3ft) | 8:00 PM(0.9ft) | -- | -- |
| Mon, Nov 16 | 4:00 AM(3.5ft) | 7:00 AM(3.3ft) | 12:00 PM(3.9ft) | 9:00 PM(0.9ft) |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 4:30 AM(3.7ft) | 9:00 AM(3.1ft) | 2:00 PM(3.7ft) | 10:00 PM(1.1ft) |
| Wed, Nov 18 | 5:00 AM(4.1ft) | 11:00 AM(2.5ft) | 4:00 PM(3.7ft) | 10:00 PM(1.1ft) |
| Thu, Nov 19 | 5:00 AM(4.6ft) | 11:00 AM(1.9ft) | 5:00 PM(3.8ft) | 11:00 PM(1.1ft) |
Today
Tomorrow
Sun, Nov 15
Mon, Nov 16
Tue, Nov 17
Wed, Nov 18
Thu, Nov 19
Beach Tide Preferences
Each beach performs best at a specific tide range and direction. Plan your session around these windows.
Top spot recommendations
Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.
Featured Beaches
4 spots
Doheny Beach
Beginner friendlyDoheny State Beach offers Orange County's second-easiest learning wave after San O' Dogpatch, rated 4/10 overall but 6/10 for beginners.
Doheny State Beach
Beginner friendlyDoheny State Beach offers Orange County's second-easiest learning wave after San O' Dogpatch, rated 4/10 overall but 6/10 for beginners.
Salt Creek
Beginner friendlySalt Creek delivers 8/10 quality across three distinct sections. The Point produces extremely rippable left pointbreaks when sandbars align; Middles offers wedgy A-frames year-round; Gravels reef breaks with board-breaking power.
Strands
Beginner friendlyStrands is a beach break in Dana Point, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.
Loading map...
What to focus on today
- Annotated tide windows tied to specific breaks
- How lunar cycles reshape sandbars through the season
- Safety notes for rip-prone outbound tides
- Session planning tips for dawn patrol versus sunset
Frequently Asked Questions
About surfing in Dana Point
- Tide preferences vary by spot in Dana Point. Generally, incoming mid-tides work well for most beaches, offering a good balance of wave shape and power. Check individual spot guides for specific tide recommendations.
- Tides significantly impact surf conditions in Dana Point. Low tide can expose reefs and sandbars creating hollow waves, while high tide often creates softer, more forgiving waves. Mid-tide transitions typically offer the most consistent conditions.
- You can check tide charts for Dana Point on Quiver's surf forecast pages, NOAA tide predictions, or various surf forecast apps. Quiver provides real-time tide information integrated with surf conditions for accurate session planning.
